Cleaning method for magnetic transfer carrier

ABSTRACT

A cleaning method preventing foreign matter attached to a brush from being transferred back to a magnetic transfer carrier by removing foreign matter attached to a cleaning tool such as the brush with a dummy carrier having a recess equivalent to that on a surface of the magnetic transfer carrier.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a cleaning method for a magnetictransfer carrier on which an information signal is recorded, and moreparticularly to a cleaning method for a magnetic transfer carrier forperforming magnetic transfer of the information signal to a magneticrecord medium used in a hard disk device or a floppy disk device.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Information signals such as a tracking servo signal, an addressinformation signal and a recovered clock signal are recorded on amagnetic transfer carrier. There has been known a magnetic transferapparatus magnetically transferring information signals recorded on amagnetic transfer carrier onto a magnetic record medium such as a harddisk or a floppy disk. For example, a magnetic transfer carrierdisclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-40544 (1998)has magnetic portions made of ferromagnetic material in a pattern forinformation signals on a surface of a substrate. A magnetic recordmedium is a sheet or a disk with a ferromagnetic thin film or aferromagnetic powder coat layer formed thereon. A surface of a magnetictransfer carrier is put into contact with a surface of a magnetic recordmedium in the shape of a disk and a prescribed magnetic field isapplied. With this procedure, information signals formed on the magnetictransfer carrier are magnetically transferred onto the magnetic recordmedium. It is important that information signals with a high density areuniformly transferred stably across all of the surface of the magneticrecord medium in order to reproduce records with high precision with amagnetic head of a magnetic record reproducing apparatus. On thisoccasion in magnetic transfer, if tiny foreign matter exists on thesurface of the magnetic transfer carrier, when both are put into contactwith each other for magnetic transfer, a depression arises on thesurface of the magnetic record medium by the tiny foreign matter, sometimes with a resultant tiny protrusion around the depression. When datarecord is reproduced using the magnetic head, such a tiny protrusion onthe magnetic record medium is put into contact with a magnetic head withthe result that the magnetic head is thrown away, for example, at theinstant of the contact, which causes record reproduction performance ofthe magnetic head to be reduced or a life time thereof to be shorter dueto physical contact thereof with the hard disk, further tending todestruction of the hard disk itself by chance. Therefore, it is veryimportant to clean a magnetic transfer carrier prior to magnetictransfer so as to remove the above described foreign matter by thecleaning, for which there has been conventionally proposed a cleaningmethod cleaning a surface of a magnetic transfer carrier with a cleaningtool.

[0003] In a case of such a cleaning method, a corner of a magnetic filmon a surface of a magnetic transfer carrier is scraped away in cleaningwith a cleaning tool and the scraped magnetic film is in some caseattached onto the cleaning tool as broken pieces. In such a cleaningmethod, though the above described tiny protrusion on a surface of amagnetic transfer carrier is removed by the cleaning tool, broken piecesfrom the magnetic film are attached as foreign matter onto the surfaceof a magnetic transfer carrier by way of the cleaning tool and magnetictransfer is inconveniently performed onto a hard disk, which is amagnetic record medium, with the magnetic transfer carrier having theforeign matter attached thereon.

[0004] In a conventional cleaning method, therefore, a necessity came tooccur for frequent cleaning a cleaning tool itself, thereby leading toaddition of an extra cleaning step, reduction in productivity for harddisks, increase in production cost of disks, further a need forexpensive apparatus for cleaning a cleaning tool itself and others witha resultant high cost as a whole.

[0005] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide acleaning method capable of performing cleaning of a magnetic transfercarrier at low cost with certainty, without a need for an apparatusdedicated to cleaning of a cleaning tool itself.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0006] (1) A cleaning method of the present invention includes: a firststep of placing a dummy carrier having at least one recess thereon, saidrecess opening toward an outer periphery thereof from an inner peripherythereof on a rotary stage used for placing a magnetic transfer carrierthereon, the magnetic transfer carrier having plural radial recessesthereon each opening toward an outer periphery thereof from an innerperiphery thereof; and a second step of sliding a cleaning tool forcleaning the magnetic transfer carrier on the dummy carrier toward theouter periphery thereof from the inner periphery thereof while rotatingthe dummy carrier with the rotary stage in rotation. Note that shapes ofthe magnetic transfer carrier and the dummy carrier each are not limitedto the shape of a disk.

[0007] According to the cleaning method of the present invention, inorder to clean the cleaning tool, the dummy carrier has only to beplaced on the rotary stage used for cleaning of the magnetic transfercarrier. Therefore, the cleaning method makes an apparatus dedicated tocleaning of the cleaning tool itself unnecessary, thereby enablingcleaning of the magnetic transfer carrier at a low cost with certainty.

[0008] In the second step of the present invention, preferably, thecleaning tool is slid toward the outer periphery from the innerperiphery on the dummy carrier while rotating the dummy carrier insubstantially the same direction as on the magnetic transfer carrierwhen being cleaned.

[0009] In the present invention, preferably, a shape of the at least onerecess on the dummy carrier and a shape of each recess on the magnetictransfer carrier are substantially the same as each other. In such asituation, when the cleaning tool received a cleaning action by thedummy carrier, it has been already adapted to the at least one recess ofthe dummy carrier; therefore, when the magnetic transfer carrier havingthe plural recesses thereon each with the same shape as that of the atleast one recess on the dummy carrier is cleaned with the cleaning tool,the cleaning can be preferably carried out with certainty and ease.

[0010] In the present invention, preferably, a press contact force ofthe cleaning tool to the dummy carrier when the cleaning tool is slid onthe dummy carrier in cleaning is made substantially the same as that ofthe cleaning tool to the magnetic transfer carrier when the cleaningtool is slid on the magnetic transfer carrier in cleaning.

[0011] In such a situation, when the cleaning tool received a cleaningaction by the dummy carrier, it has been already adapted to the at leastone recess of the dummy carrier; therefore, when the magnetic transfercarrier having the plural recesses thereon each with the same shape asthat of the at least one recess on the dummy carrier is cleaned with thecleaning tool, the cleaning can be preferably carried out with certaintyand ease.

[0012] In the present invention, preferably, a relative speed of thecleaning tool to the dummy carrier when the cleaning tool is slid on thedummy carrier in cleaning is made substantially the same or almost thesame as that of the cleaning tool to the magnetic transfer carrier whenthe cleaning tool is slid on the magnetic transfer carrier in cleaning.

[0013] In such a situation, when the cleaning tool received a cleaningaction by the dummy carrier, it has been already adapted to the at leastone recess of the dummy carrier; therefore, when the magnetic transfercarrier having the plural recesses thereon each with the same shape asthat of the at least one recess on the dummy carrier is cleaned with thecleaning tool, the cleaning can be preferably carried out with certaintyand ease.

[0014] (2) A magnetic transfer carrier of the present invention is amagnetic transfer carrier, on which an information signal is recorded,and which is used in magnetic transfer of the information signal onto amagnetic record medium in contact therewith, and has a structure inwhich a recess for close contact between the magnetic transfer carrierand the magnetic record medium in magnetic transfer is formed on amagnetic transfer surface thereof facing the magnetic record medium, andthe recess has a shape to open toward an outer periphery of the magnetictransfer carrier from an inner periphery thereof and in addition, servesas a recess for cleaning the magnetic transfer carrier.

[0015] According to the magnetic transfer carrier of the presentinvention, since the recess for close contact is used as the recess forcleaning when the magnetic transfer carrier is cleaned with the cleaningtool, if the cleaning tool has been used, for cleaning thereof, incleaning of a surface of the dummy carrier on which a recess in the sameshape as the recess for close contact is formed, the cleaning tool isalready in a state to be adapted to the shape of the recess for cleaningon the magnetic transfer carrier, which makes it possible not only forthe cleaning to be easy, but also for foreign matter attached on themagnetic transfer carrier to be discarded through the recess forcleaning opening toward the outer periphery thereof further to outsidethereof, thereby attaining the magnetic transfer carrier easy in controlof the cleaning.

[0016] Note that the cleaning tool includes a tool in the shape of apad, a brush, a roller and the others.

[0017] In the present invention, preferably, the magnetic transfercarrier has not only plural radial contact portions thereon for magnetictransfer onto the magnetic record medium, opening toward the outerperiphery thereof from the inner periphery thereof on the magnetictransfer surface, but also the recess for cleaning is provided radiallyat least between contact portions of one pair.

[0018] In this case, since the recess for cleaning is radially formed ina direction toward the outer periphery of the magnetic transfer carrier,when the cleaning tool is slid thereon while rotating the magnetictransfer carrier, the foreign matter can be preferably removed tooutside thereof with good efficiency.

[0019] In the present invention, preferably, the close contact recess isenlarged in width toward the outer periphery of the magnetic transfercarrier from the inner periphery thereof.

[0020] With such a shape of the close contact recess adopted, theforeign matter can be preferably removed to outside thereof with betterefficiency.

[0021] (3) A disk cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes:a holding section capable of holding a first disk to be cleaned and asecond disk used as a dummy, a cleaning tool disposed facing each ofboth disks held by the holding section; and a sliding section slidingthe cleaning tool relatively on each of both disks in cleaning, and isoperable according to a procedure including a step of sliding thecleaning tool on the second disk relatively thereto in a state where thesecond disk is held by the holding section to clean the cleaning tool;and a step of sliding the cleaning tool cleaned in the previous step onthe first disk relatively thereto in a state where the first disk isheld by the holding section to clean the first disk.

[0022] According to the present invention, since in the cleaning stepfor the cleaning tool, the cleaning tool is cleaned by sliding thereofon the second disk and the first disk is cleaned in the cleaning stepfor the first disk, the cleaning tool, which is adapted to the seconddisk in cleaning thereof, can clean the first disk with ease.

[0023] The present invention, in cleaning, preferably has a controlmechanism that moves the cleaning tool across the second disk coveringevery part thereof to as far as outside of the outer periphery edgethereof.

[0024] In this case, foreign matter attached to the cleaning toolpreferably loses a second chance to attach thereto since the foreignmatter is sent out to outside of the second disk.

[0025] The present invention, in cleaning, preferably has a controlmechanism that moves the cleaning tool across the first disk coveringevery part thereof to as far as outside of the outer periphery edgethereof.

[0026] In this case, foreign matter attached to the first diskpreferably loses a chance to remain attached thereto since the foreignmatter is sent out to outside of the first disk.

[0027] Preferably, the present invention uses a magnetic transfercarrier, as the first disk, on which information signals are recorded,and which is used for magnetic transfer of the information signals in astate of being in contact with a magnetic record medium, and having atleast one recess opening toward an outer periphery thereof from an innerperiphery thereof on a magnetic transfer surface facing the magneticrecord medium, and uses a dummy carrier, as the second disk, having arecess of almost the same shape as that of the at least one recess ofthe magnetic transfer carrier on at least one surface thereof.

[0028] In this case, preferably, foreign matter attached to the cleaningtool is sent out to the outer periphery of the dummy carrier with easeand simplicity when the cleaning tool is cleaned with the dummy carriersince the dummy carrier has a radial recess extending toward theperiphery thereof from the inner periphery thereof, and the cleaningtool has been already adapted to the shape of the recess on the dummycarrier, so the magnetic transfer carrier can be cleaned with ease.

[0029] (4) A dummy carrier of the present invention, in correspondenceto a magnetic transfer carrier used for magnetic transfer of aninformation signal with plural radial recesses each extending toward anouter periphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof on a magnetictransfer surface thereof; has a radial recess extending toward an outerperiphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof on at least onesurface thereof, a shape of which recess is the same or substantiallythe same as that of each of the plural radial recesses on the magnetictransfer surface, and is used for cleaning of a cleaning tool by slidingthe cleaning tool on a surface of the dummy carrier while the dummycarrier is held by a holding section of a disk cleaning apparatus.

[0030] According to the present invention, the cleaning tool can bepreferably used in cleaning of the dummy disk. In this case, since thedummy disk has the radial recess on the surface thereof, when thecleaning tool is cleaned on the surface, foreign matter attached to thesurface can be certainly removed by the cleaning tool through the recessopening toward the outer periphery thereof to outside of the dummycarrier, thereby attaining a magnetic transfer carrier easy in controlof the cleaning.

[0031] (5) A carrier cleaning apparatus of the present invention is acleaning apparatus for a magnetic transfer carrier having a magneticfilm corresponding to an information signal formed on a surface on asubstrate, and includes a holding section holding the magnetic transfercarrier having a recess of a radial shape extending toward an outerperiphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof with an edge at theouter periphery opening to outside thereof; a cleaning tool disposedfacing a surface of the magnetic transfer carrier on which the magneticfilm is formed; and a sliding section sliding the cleaning tool on themagnetic transfer carrier relatively thereto, wherein in cleaning, thesliding section presses the cleaning tool to the magnetic transfercarrier at a prescribed quantity of press-down and keeping this state,slides the cleaning tool toward the outer periphery from the innerperiphery in conformity to the radial shape of the recess.

[0032] With such a configuration adopted, foreign matter attached on thesurface and in the recess of the magnetic transfer carrier can beremoved with ease and certainty and avoidance can be perfectly made ondestruction of a magnetic head and a magnetic record medium caused bycontact between the magnetic record medium and the magnetic head due tothe presence of foreign matter therebetween.

[0033] In the present invention, on a surface of the magnetic transfercarrier, an area of a central portion having no part of a recess ispreferably larger than an area in which the cleaning tool is in contactwith the magnetic transfer carrier. This is because, when the cleaningtool is pressed into the magnetic transfer carrier prior to the start ofcleaning, there occurs no contact of the cleaning tool with depressionsand protrusions formed by the recess.

[0034] In the present invention, the cleaning tool is preferably arotary brush rotating about a line, as an axis, in a direction insubstantially parallel to a normal to the magnetic transfer carrier.

[0035] In the present invention, if a radius of the rotary brush is r(mm), a cycle of sliding repetition in sliding of the rotary brushdriven by the sliding section is t(s), a radius of the magnetic transfercarrier of an almost circular shape is R (mm), and a rotation speed ofthe magnetic transfer carrier when being rotated by the holding sectionis x (rps) by definition, a relation of πt×R<r is preferablyestablished. This is because cleaning over all of the surface of themagnetic transfer carrier can be performed with certainty.

[0036] In the present invention, if a depth of a recess on the magnetictransfer carrier is M (mm) and, a press-down quantity of the rotarybrush into the magnetic transfer carrier in cleaning is N (mm) bydefinition, a relation of N/M>10 is preferably established. This isbecause with such a relation established, foreign matter can be removedwith more of certainty.

[0037] In the present invention, the recess is preferably enlarged inwidth toward the outer periphery from the inner periphery. This isbecause foreign matter can be sent out to the outer periphery side withmore of certainty.

[0038] In the present invention, the cleaning tool is preferably slid toas far as outside of an outer periphery edge of a magnetic film on asurface of the magnetic transfer carrier on which the magnetic film isformed. This is because foreign matter can be removed with certainty,without remaining at the outer periphery edge of the magnetic transfercarrier.

[0039] In the present invention, preferably, the recess is of thesectional shape of a substantially circular arc, the cleaning toolpivoted around a prescribed position as a center, and a curvature radiusof the circular arc and a radius of the pivoting motion of the rotarybrush are almost in coincidence with each other. This is because foreignmatter attached to the recess can be sent out with more of certainty.

[0040] (6) A cleaning method of the present invention is a cleaningmethod for a magnetic transfer carrier having a magnetic filmcorresponding to an information signal formed on a surface of asubstrate and includes the steps of: holding the magnetic transfercarrier having a recess of a radial shape extending toward an outerperiphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof with an edge at theouter periphery opening to outside thereof; and sliding a cleaning tooldisposed facing a surface of the magnetic transfer carrier on which amagnetic film is formed, relatively thereto, wherein in cleaning, thesliding section presses the cleaning tool to the magnetic transfercarrier at a prescribed quantity of press-down and keeping this state,slides the cleaning tool toward the outer periphery from the innerperiphery in conformity to the radial shape of the recess.

[0041] With such a configuration adopted, foreign matter attached on thesurface and in the recess of the magnetic transfer carrier can beremoved with ease and certainty and avoidance can be perfectly made ondestruction of a magnetic head and a magnetic record medium caused bycontact between the magnetic record medium and the magnetic head due tothe presence of foreign matter therebetween.

[0042] A magnetic transfer carrier cleaned using the cleaning method andthe cleaning apparatus described above are free from foreign matter,which has been removed, with certainty. Therefore, when a magneticrecord reproducing apparatus is operated on a magnetic record medium onwhich information signals have been magnetically transferred from such amagnetic transfer carrier, high quality record reproduction can beenabled in which there is produced no destruction of a magnetic head anda magnetic record medium by contact between the magnetic record mediumand the magnetic head caused by foreign matter present therebetween.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043]FIG. 1 is a view showing a state where a magnetic transfer carrierand a magnetic record medium are spaced apart away from each other in amagnetic transfer apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

[0044]FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where the magnetic transfercarrier and the magnetic record medium are in close contact with eachother in the magnetic transfer apparatus according to the embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0045]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the magnetic transfer carrier ofFIG. 1;

[0046]FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between a time and apressure in an internal space A of a support stage for the magneticrecord medium of FIG. 1;

[0047]FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of the magnetic transfer carrierof FIG. 1;

[0048]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a part A′ of FIG. 5;

[0049]FIG. 7 is a partially sectional view of a region shown in FIG. 6;

[0050]FIG. 8 is an illustration showing an initialization of a magneticrecord medium in magnetic transfer;

[0051]FIG. 9 is an illustration showing magnetic transfer on a magneticrecord medium;

[0052]FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a way of magnetic transfer;

[0053]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a configuration of a cleaningapparatus of the embodiment;

[0054]FIG. 12 is a top view showing cleaning of FIG. 11;

[0055]FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a magnetictransfer carrier;

[0056]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a magnetic transfer apparatusaccording to other embodiments of the present invention;

[0057]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the magnetic transfer apparatusaccording to the other embodiments of a present invention;

[0058]FIG. 16 is a graph showing a cycle of movement of a pivoting brushin the magnetic transfer apparatus according to the other embodiments ofthe present invention; and

[0059]FIG. 17 is a plan view of a magnetic record reproducing apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0060] Referring to the accompanying drawings, description will be givenof a magnetic transfer apparatus using a magnetic transfer carrieraccording to an embodiment in the best mode of the present inventionbelow.

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a reference numeral 1 indicates amagnetic record medium such as a magnetic disk on which informationsignals are to be transferred; 2 a disk-shaped magnetic transfercarrier, on which the information signals are recorded to performmagnetic transfer of the information signals onto the magnetic recordmedium 1; 3 plural radial contact portions for contact with thedisk-shaped magnetic record medium 1 in magnetic transfer, provided onone surface of the magnetic transfer carrier 2; and 4 radial recesses.

[0062] The radial recesses 4 each are depressed into the bulk of thesubstrate compared with the corresponding radial contact portion 3between adjacent radial contact portions 3 and opens toward the outerperiphery of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 from the inner peripherythereof. The radial recesses 4 each serve as a cleaning recess asdescribed later and a depth thereof is preferably set to a value of theorder of 5 μm.

[0063] A reference numeral 6 indicates a support stage for supportingthe magnetic record medium 1; 7 a vent hole provided for flowing of agas into the central section of the support stage 6; 8 a passage throughwhich a gas between the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the magneticrecord medium 1 is discharged or a gas is forcibly fed therebetween; 9 agas discharge port for discharging a gas from the passage 8; 10 asuction pump connected to the gas discharge port 9; an 11 an exhaustvalve for controlling an exhaust of the gas. A reference numeral 12indicates a gas feed pump for forcibly feeding a gas into the passage 8;13 a gas feed valve controlling a feed of the gas. The gas feed pump 12is equipped with an air filter (not shown) of 0.01 μm in pore size suchthat foreign matter of 0.01 μm or more across is not forcibly fed intothe passage 8.

[0064] A reference numeral 14 indicates an arm being fixedly mounted onthe magnetic transfer carrier 2 to hold. The magnetic transfer carrier 2is fixedly mounted onto the holding arm 14 by sucking a gas through thethrough hole provided to the holding arm 14. The holding arm 14 isfreely slidably positioned at a proper position along the verticaldirection by a guide member 16 by way of a boss section at the top sidethereof.

[0065] Detailed description will be given of a process associated withsuction/forced feed.

[0066] First of all, with reference to FIG. 1, there will be describedof a moving-apart step of moving the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and themagnetic record medium 1 apart away from each other by forced feed ofair, which is an example of the gas. The exhaust valve 11 is closedwhile the gas feed valve 13 is opened and in this state, the gas feedpump 12 is operated. With this operation, the gas is caused to flow intothe passage 8. By doing so, air is forcibly fed upwardly as shown withan arrow mark A of FIG. 1 through the vent hole 7. Thereby, the airforcibly fed into the vent hole 7 pushes up the magnetic transfercarrier 2. The air is forcibly fed to the recesses 4 as shown with anarrow mark B. The air forcibly fed into the recesses 4 not only expandsand advances radially toward the outer periphery of the magnetictransfer carrier 2 from the center portion thereof through the recesses4, but are also released into the atmospheric air through clearancesincluding the recesses 4 between the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and themagnetic record medium 1.

[0067]FIG. 4 shows a relationship between an elapsed time in the stepabove and a pressure in a space H interposing between the magnetictransfer carrier 2 and the magnetic record medium 1, and after elapsing3 seconds in the figure, the pressure in the space H increases rapidlyin an instant from 101.3 kpa upward and thereafter, is kept at apressure of the order of 130 kpa for about 1 sec, which periodcorresponds to a state where the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and themagnetic record medium 1 stay apart away form each other.

[0068] The magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the magnetic record medium 1move apart way from each other starting a state of being in closecontact with each other and when the magnetic transfer carrier 2 risesby 0.5 mm in one piece with the holding arm 14, the top surface of theholding arm 14 is put into contact with the lower surface of the guidemember 16. Thereby, a moving-apart distance between the magnetic recordmedium 1 and the magnetic transfer carrier 2 is controlled.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 2, description will be given of a close contactprocess in which the magnetic record medium 1 and the magnetic transfercarrier 2 are put into close contact with each other by suction of air.

[0070] The gas feed pump 12 is ceased to be out of operation and the gasfeed valve 13 is closed. Then, the holding arm 14 on which the magneticrecord medium 1 is fixedly mounted is moved downward by its own weightto be settled on the magnetic record medium 1. Thereafter, the exhaustvalve 11 is opened and the suction pump 10 is operated.

[0071] By doing so, since the gas in the vent hole 7 is dischargeddownward as shown with an arrow mark C of FIG. 2, the gas in therecesses 4, that is the gas in the space H. is also discharged through aclearance between a hole defined by the inner periphery of the magneticrecord medium 1 and a boss 5.

[0072] Since the recesses 4 each are of a shape to extend through theedge of the outer periphery of the magnet transfer carrier 2 as shown inFIG. 3, the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the magnetic record medium 1are in close contact with each other along all of the periphery. Forthis reason, a pressure in the space H between the magnetic transfercarrier 2 and the magnetic record medium 1 is reduced lower than theatmospheric pressure. Accordingly, the magnetic record medium 1 ispressed to the magnetic transfer carrier 2 by the action of theatmospheric pressure 15. In FIG. 4, a division of 30 kps in pressure inthe space H corresponds to the above described close contact state.

[0073] Then, a magnet 17 is moved toward in the direction of an arrowmark D as shown in FIG. 2 so as to be close to the magnetic transfercarrier 2. When a distance of the magnet 17 close to the magnetictransfer carrier 2 reaches a value of the order of 1 mm, movement of themagnet 17 in the direction of an arrow mark D is ceased. Then, themagnet 17 is revolved in the circular periphery direction of themagnetic record medium 1, that is in a direction of an arrow mark F, byone revolution or more. With the revolution, a necessary magnetic fieldfor magnetic transfer is applied to the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0074] Here, detailed description will be given of the magnetic transfercarrier 2 referring to FIGS. 5 to 7. FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan viewof one example of the magnetic transfer carrier 2. As shown in FIG. 5, asignal region 2 a is formed almost radially on one major surface of themagnetic transfer carrier 2, that is a surface of the magnetic transfercarrier 1 in contact with a ferromagnetic thin film surface of themagnetic record medium 1. FIGS. 3 and 5 each are a view showing a modeland actually, the signal region 2 a is formed on a contact portion 3 inFIG. 3.

[0075]FIG. 6 schematically shows an enlarged view of part A′ enclosed bya dotted line of FIG. 5. In the signal region 2 a, as shown in FIG. 6,there are formed digital information signals recorded on the magneticrecord medium 1, for example, a magnetic transfer information patternconstituted of magnetic portions made of a ferromagnetic thin film,corresponding to information signals at positions in conformity topreformat recording.

[0076] In FIG. 6, portions shaded by hatching show magnetic portionsmade of a ferromagnetic thin film. The magnetic transfer informationpattern shown in FIG. 6 is a pattern with a configuration in whichinformation signals such as a clock signal, a tracking servo signal, anaddress information signal, and other digital signals are arrangedsequentially in the direction of a track length. The magnetic transferinformation pattern shown in FIG. 6 is one example, and a configuration,arrangement and others of a magnetic transfer information pattern areproperly determined according to information signals to be magneticallytransferred onto the magnetic record medium 1.

[0077] For example, in a case where as in a hard disk drive, a referencesignal is recorded on a magnetic film of a hard disk, which is amagnetic record medium, and preformat recording of a tracking servosignal and other signals is further performed on the basis of thereference signal, the following procedure may be adopted in which amagnetic transfer carrier according to the present invention is used totransfer record only a reference signal used in preformat recording inadvance on a magnetic film of a hard disk and then the hard disk isinstalled into a case of the drive, followed by preformat recording of atracking servo signal and other signals performed with a magnetic headof the hard disk drive.

[0078]FIG. 7 shows a partial section of the magnetic transfer carrier 2.The magnetic transfer carrier 2 has a substrate 2 b, as shown in FIG. 7,made of a non-magnetic material such as a Si substrate, a glasssubstrate, a plastic substrate or the like in the shape of a disk. Onone major surface of the substrate 2 b, that is on a surface thereofwith which a surface of the magnetic record medium 1 is in contact,there are formed plural fine recessed portions 2 c corresponding toinformation signals in an arrangement pattern. A ferromagnetic film 2 d,which is a magnetic portion, is formed in the recessed portions 2 c onthe substrate 2 b.

[0079] As materials of the ferromagnetic thin film 2 d on the magnetictransfer carrier 2, they have only to be magnetic materials capable oftransfer recording a digital information signal on a magnetic recordmedium and no specific limitation is imposed on its nature in terms ofhardness, such as hard, semi-hard or soft. As materials of theferromagnetic thin film 2 d, there can be exemplified, for example, Fe,Co, Fe—Co alloy and others. Note that a higher saturation magnetic fluxdensity of a magnetic material is more preferably accepted in order togenerate a sufficient recording magnetic field regardless of a kind of amagnetic record medium on which information signals are written.Especially in cases of a magnetic record medium with a high coerciveforce in excess of 200 Oe and a flexible disk with a thick magneticlayer, there arises a chance to disable sufficient recording thereon ata saturation magnetic flux density of 0.8 T or less. For this reason,there are used a magnetic material with a saturation magnetic fluxdensity of generally 0.8 T or more and preferably 1.0 T or more.

[0080] A thickness of the ferromagnetic thin film 2 d of the magnetictransfer carrier 2 is dependent on a bit length, saturationmagnetization of a magnetic record medium and a film thickness of amagnetic layer. For example, in a case where a bit length is about 1 μm,a saturation magnetization and a thickness of a magnetic layer of themagnetic record medium are about 500 emu/cc and about 20 nm,respectively, a thickness of the ferromagnetic thin film 2 d has only tobe of the order of a value in the range of from 50 nm to 500 nm.

[0081] In order to acquire a good quality of such magneticallytransferred signals, it is desirable to uniformly excite and magnetizethe ferromagnetic thin films 2 d in preformat recording on the basis ofan arrangement pattern of a soft magnetic thin film or a semi-hardmagnetic thin film as the ferromagnetic thin film 2 d provided onto themagnetic transfer carrier 2. Furthermore, it is desirable to applyuniform direct-current erase to the magnetic record medium 1 such as ahard disk prior to signal recording using the magnetic transfer carrier.

[0082] Description will be given of a fabrication method for themagnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0083] A resist film is formed on a surface of a Si substrate. Then, theresist film is subjected to exposure and developing to finally bepatterned using a lithographic technology with a laser beam or anelectron beam such as in a photolithographic method. Thereafter, theresist film is etched by dry etching or the like technique to form afine recess and protrusion profile corresponding to information signalson the resist film. Subsequent to this, a sputtering method, a vacuumevaporation method, an ion plating method, a CVD method, a platingmethod or the like is used to obtain a magnetic transfer carrier 2provided with magnetic portions corresponding to information signals ina state where recessed portions are filled with a ferromagnetic thinfilm made of Co or the like.

[0084] No specific limitation is imposed to the above method as a methodfor forming a recess and protrusion profile on a surface of the magnetictransfer carrier 2 and for example, a fine recess and protrusion profileis directly formed using a laser beam, an electron beam or an ion beamor alternatively, such a profile may also be formed directly bymachining.

[0085] Then, information signals corresponding to a pattern formed onthe magnetic transfer carrier 2 are subjected to transfer recording, aprocedure for which will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0086] At first, the magnet 17 is moved close to the magnetic recordmedium 1. In this state, the magnet 17 is rotated in parallel to themagnetic record medium 1 with a central axis of the magnetic recordmedium 1 as a rotation axis. Thereby, the magnetic record medium 1 ismagnetized in one direction indicated by an arrow mark of FIG. 8 inadvance (initialization).

[0087] Then, the magnetic transfer carrier 2 is superimposed on themagnetic record medium 1 after positioning. In this superimposed state,the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the magnetic record medium 1 are putinto uniform and close contact with each other. Thereafter, there isapplied a magnetic field in a direction opposite to that ininitialization. Thereby, the magnetic portions 2 d of the magnetictransfer carrier 2 are magnetized. Information signals corresponding toan arrangement pattern of the magnetic portions 2 d on the magnetictransfer carrier 2, as shown in FIG. 9, are magnetically transferred ina prescribed region 1 b on the magnetic record medium 1 superimposed onthe magnetic transfer carrier 2. Note that, an arrow mark indicated inFIG. 9 is a direction of a magnetic field of a magnetization patternmagnetically transferred onto the magnetic record medium 1.

[0088] In FIG. 10, there is shown details of a magnetization performed.As shown in FIG. 10, a magnetic field is applied to the magnetictransfer carrier 2 from outside in a state where the magnetic transfercarrier 2 is superimposed on the magnetic record medium 1 to magnetizethe magnetic portions 2 d on the magnetic transfer carrier 2. Thereby,information signals can be magnetically transferred to the ferromagneticlayer 1 c on the magnetic record medium 1. That is, by using themagnetic transfer carrier 2 on which the magnetic portions 2 d made of aferromagnetic thin film in an arrangement pattern corresponding toprescribed information signals are formed on the non-magnetic substrate2 b, magnetic transfer recording can be performed onto the magneticrecord medium las a magnetization pattern corresponding to theinformation signals.

[0089] Note that as a method for magnetic transfer of a pattern on themagnetic transfer carrier 2 onto the magnetic record medium 1, a methodis also available in which the magnetic portions 2 d on the magnetictransfer carrier 2 are magnetized in advance and then in this state, themagnetic transfer carrier 2 is put into close contact with the magneticrecord medium 1, thereby enabling writing of information signals, inaddition to a method in which as described above, an external magneticfield is applied to the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the magneticrecord medium 1 in a state where both are in contact with each other.

[0090] Thereafter, the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the magneticrecord medium 1 again move apart away from each other as shown inFIG. 1. That is, the exhaust valve 11 is closed and the gas feed valve13 is opened and the gas feed pump 12 is operated. Then, air is forciblyfed as shown by the arrow marks A and B and the magnetic transfercarrier 2 is moved in one piece with the holding arm 14 by the action ofa force of the air forcibly fed. The magnetic transfer carrier 2 ceasesits movement where the top surface of the holding arm 14 comes intocontact with the guide member 16. At this time, as shown by the arrowmark B, the air is forcibly sent radially through the recesses 4 towardthe outer periphery of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 from the centerthereof, which state is kept on.

[0091] Here, if foreign matter exists on the contact portions 3 of themagnetic transfer carrier 2, a defect would occur on the magnetic recordmedium 1 by performing magnetic transfer.

[0092] Description will be given of a cleaning method with reference toFIGS. 11 to 13.

[0093]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a construction of a disk cleaningapparatus.

[0094] In FIG. 11, the disk cleaning apparatus has a dummy carrier 102.A material of the disk dummy carrier 102 is a silicon wafer. The dummycarrier 102 has plural radial recesses 4′ thereon with the same shape asthe radial recesses 4 on the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0095] A reference numeral 103 indicates a rotary stage as a holdingsection holding the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the dummy carrier102. The rotary stage 103 rotate in a direction AA while holding thedummy carrier 102 with, for example, a static chuck. The rotary stage103 also functions as a holding section for the magnetic transfercarrier 2, which is a disk to be cleaned.

[0096] A reference numeral 107 indicates a cleaner disk and 108 acleaning tool in the shape of a pad made of polyurethane as a material,and the cleaning tool 108 is mounted along the outer periphery of thecleaning disk 107 and faces the recesses 4′ on the dummy carrier 102. Areference numeral 109 is a rotation motor for autorotation of thecleaner disk 107 in the direction of an arrow mark BB, 110 a connectingarm connected to the rotation motor 109 at one end thereof and 111 apivoting motion motor connected to the connecting arm 110 at the otherend thereof and rotatable in the direction of an arrow mark CC. Areference numeral 112 indicates an air cylinder. The rotation motor 111is placed on the air cylinder 112 and movable in the direction of anarrow mark DD.

[0097] A reference numeral 113 indicates a micrometer adjusting amovement of the air cylinder 112 in the direction of an arrow mark DD toadjust contact between the dummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108,and 114 a jet port. The jet port 114 feeds pure water passing through afilter of 0.05 μm in pore size (not shown). The pure water is jettedbetween the dummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108.

[0098] In such a cleaning apparatus, when the air cylinder 112 ispositioned at an upper side thereof (the top of the arrow DD) of FIG.11, the dummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108 are moved apart awayfrom each other, When the air cylinder 112 is positioned at a lower sidethereof (the bottom of the arrow DD) of FIG. 11, the dummy carrier 102and the cleaning tool 108 come into contact with each other. A contactpress force acting between both 102 and 108 is adjusted by themicrometer 113 disposed at the lower end of the air cylinder 112.

[0099] When the air cylinder 112 is moved downward, a press-downquantity of the cleaning tool 108 into the dummy carrier 102 is set to0.2 mm. To be detailed, the cleaning tool 108 is positioned at 0.2 mmdownward from the contact position between the cleaning tool 108 and thedummy carrier 102. The position of the cleaning tool 108 is adjusted bythe micrometer 113.

[0100] The constituents 109 to 113 cause the cleaning tool 108 to slidethe cleaning tool 108 on the dummy carrier 102 or the magnetic transfercarrier 2 toward the outer periphery thereof from the inner peripherythereof to thus constitute a sliding section for cleaning the cleaningtool 108 and the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0101] First of all, the dummy carrier 102 is placed and held on therotary stage 103. At this time, the air cylinder 112 is disposed at theupper side thereof in the direction of the arrow DD in the figure. Inthis state, the dummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108 are movedapart away from each other. The cleaning tool 108 is disposed at aposition FF in FIG. 12, that is a position outside of the dummy carrier102 spaced therefrom.

[0102] Then, the cleaning tool 108, in FIG. 12, is pivoted around by thepivoting motion motor 111 from the position FF in the clockwisedirection as viewed from above to as far as a position EE, that is thecentral position of the dummy carrier 102.

[0103] Then, the dummy carrier 102 is slowly rotated by the rotary stage103 in the direction of the arrow mark AA, that is in the clockwisedirection as viewed from above at a low speed of 20 rpm in rotationnumber, while the cleaning tool 108 is rotated by the rotation motor 109in the direction of an arrow mark BB, that is in the clockwise directionas viewed from above at a high speed of 450 rpm in rotation number. Inthis state, a cleaning liquid is jetted from the jet port 114 towardbetween the dummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108.

[0104] Then, the cleaning tool 108 is moved to the lower side in thedirection of the arrow mark DD by the air cylinder 112. Thereby, thecleaning tool 108 and the dummy carrier 102 are relatively moved so asto be close to each other while both are rotated. After the approach,the cleaning tool 108 is ceased its vertical advance into the dummycarrier 102 at a press-down position of 0.2 mm in depth therein.

[0105] Then, the cleaning tool 108 is pivoted around by the pivotingmotion motor 111 in the direction of the arrow mark CC, that is in thecounter-clockwise as viewed from above. A moving speed thereof is setsuch that the cleaning tool 108 is pivoted around by a distance lessthan the diameter thereof in a period when the dummy carrier 102 isrotated one rotation by the rotary stage 103 wherein the cleaning tool108 is eventually put into contact with all the surface of the dummycarrier 102.

[0106] With such an operation, foreign matter attached on the surface ofthe cleaning tool 108 is removed from the cleaning tool 108 by contactbetween the recesses 4′ on the dummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool108 and sent out to outside of the dummy carrier 102 through therecesses 4′.

[0107] Then, the pivoting motion motor 111 is completely ceased out ofoperation when the cleaning tool 108 is at the position FF of FIG. 12,that is at a position spaced apart from the dummy carrier 102, in otherwords, at a position with no contact portion between the cleaning tool108 and the dummy carrier 102. With such an operation, foreign matterattached on the surface of the cleaning tool 108 is sent out from thesurface of the dummy carrier 102 to outside thereof with certainty.

[0108] Finally, after the air cylinder 112 is moved to the upper side inthe direction of the arrow mark DD, the cleaning tool 108 is moved bythe rotary motor 112 to its original position indicated by the arrowmark EE of FIG. 13.

[0109] By repeating such a series of cleaning related actions, foreignmatter attached to the cleaning tool 108 is removed.

[0110] In the above case, an effect of adaptation of the cleaning tool108 to the magnetic transfer carrier 2 can be enjoyed together with aneffect of cleaning the cleaning tool under conditions that the recesses4′ of the dummy carrier 102 has the same shape as the recesses 4 of themagnetic transfer carrier 2; the contact press force acting between thedummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108 and the contact press forceacting between the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the cleaning tool 108are almost the same as each other; and the rotation numbers of the dummycarrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108 and the rotation numbers of thedummy carrier 102 and the cleaning tool 108, respectively, aresubstantially equal to each other.

[0111] The surface of the cleaning tool 108 are hardened when being leftwithout protection. Therefore, the cleaning tool 108 is cleaned usingthe dummy carrier 102 in the same shape as the magnetic transfer carrier2 prior to actual cleaning of the magnetic transfer carrier 2, which isa disk to be cleaned, in the same condition as for the magnetic transfercarrier 2. With such an operation, the cleaning tool 108 in an hardenedstate is rendered to be in a soft state, thereby ensuring an optimalstate for the cleaning.

[0112] After cleaning of the cleaning tool 108, cleaning of the magnetictransfer carrier 2 is performed, wherein since the cleaning step is thesame as the cleaning step for the cleaning step for the cleaning tool108, the dummy carrier 102 has simply to be changed to the magnetictransfer carrier 2.

[0113] In a case where there is an abnormal part at an end of a magneticfilm 2 d formed on the surface of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 andthereby, for example, a burr 2 e exists as shown in FIG. 13, there is afear that the end thereof is scraped into broken pieces by the cleaningtool 108 and the broken pieces are attached to the cleaning tool 108, oralternatively, to the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0114] In the case of this embodiment, however, the broken pieces of themagnetic film attached to such a magnetic transfer carrier 2 are movedto outside of the magnetic carrier 2 along the recesses 4 thereon bypivoting motion and movement toward the outer periphery of the cleaningtool 108. Thereafter, when the cleaning tool 108 moves away from themagnetic transfer carrier 2, the broken pieces attached on the surfaceof the magnetic transfer carrier 2 are also sent out to the outside ofthe magnetic transfer carrier 2 since a shape of each recess on themagnetic transfer carrier 2 is in a state to open toward the outsideside of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0115] As described above, the broken pieces of the magnetic film arecertainly sent out to outside without remaining attached on the surfaceof the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0116] In this case, however, a possibility exists that broken pieces ofa magnetic film stay as attached on the surface of the cleaning tool108. In a case where the magnetic transfer carrier 2 is cleaned overplural straight times with the cleaning tool 108 or in a case wherethere remain many abnormal ends 2 e of magnetic film as fabricationdefects thereof, many broken pieces from the magnetic film have a chanceto attach onto the surface of the cleaning tool 108.

[0117] Therefore, if the dummy carrier 102 is placed again on the rotarystage 103 and cleaning of the cleaning tool 108 similar to the abovedescribed way is performed, broken pieces from the magnetic filmattached on the surface of the cleaning tool 108 are removed.

[0118] In such a way, in the case of this embodiment, broken pieces of amagnetic film attached on the surface of the cleaning tool 108 can beremoved by a simple method without adding any special apparatusconstruction.

[0119] Note that the present invention is not limited to a method foralternately cleaning the dummy carrier 102 and the magnetic transfercarrier 2, each single cleaning step for the dummy carrier 102 or themagnetic transfer carrier 2 at a time, but a method may be adopted inwhich, for example, after the cleaning tool 108 is cleaned with thedummy carrier 12, a prescribed number of magnetic transfer carriers, forexample 10 times are cleaned, followed by putting the dummy carrier 102in place into the cleaning apparatus for the second time of cleaning ofthe cleaning tool 108.

[0120] It may be determined whether or not broken pieces are attached onthe surface of the cleaning tool 108 by counting particles in a cleaningliquid. That is, a method may be adopted in which a publicly knownin-liquid particle counter is used to count particles in a liquid andwhen the number of particles in the liquid exceeds a prescribed value,the dummy carrier 102 is put into a cleaning apparatus.

[0121] The present invention is not limited to one dummy carrier 102used prior to a magnetic transfer carrier 2, but plural, for example 10,dummy carriers 102 may be consecutively used prior to the magnetictransfer carrier 2, and then an effect of cleaning the cleaning tool 108is improved.

[0122] In the present invention, a configuration of the dummy carrier isnot limited to one on which no magnetic film is formed, but for example,when a magnetic transfer carrier having a magnetic film thereon, nocorner of which is chipped away by a brush, or corners of which havebeen sufficiently chipped away already is used, an equivalent effect canbe attained.

[0123] The cleaning brush 108 of the present invention may be of theshape of a roll brush. In a case of a roll brush, the roll brush doesnot slide on a surface toward the outer periphery from the innerperiphery, but slides by rolling. Note that the present inventionincludes other ways of sliding.

[0124] (Other Embodiments)

[0125] Description will be given of a cleaning method for a magnetictransfer carrier relating to a second embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. In FIG. 14, the samesymbols are attached to constituents corresponding to those of FIG. 11.A configuration of an apparatus in use is such that the magnetictransfer carrier 2 made of a silicon substrate of 50 mm in diameter isheld by the rotary stage 103 and rotatable at a rotation speed of 1 rpmin the direction of an arrow mark AA. A radius of the cleaning tool 108constituted of a rotary brush is 10 mm. A radius of the cleaning tool108 is set so as to be smaller than a radius of 13 mm of a regionincluding the center, where no part of the recesses 4 on the magnetictransfer carrier 2 is formed.

[0126] A press-down quantity of the cleaning tool 108 into the magnetictransfer carrier 2 when the air cylinder 112 is moved downward is set to0.20 mm. That is, the cleaning tool 108 and the magnetic transfercarrier 2 are in position adjusted by the micrometer 113 such that thecleaning tool 108 reaches a position at 0.2 mm in distance downward froma position at which the cleaning tool 108 and the magnetic transfercarrier 2 are in contact with each other.

[0127] Referring to FIG. 15, a configuration is adopted such that acurvature radius of an circular arc of each recess 4 coincides withapproximately a distance between the center of the pivoting motion motor111 and the center of the cleaning tool 108. A configuration is adoptedsuch that the center of the pivoting motion motor 111 is positioned suchthat the center thereof coincides with approximately a locus of thecurvature center of each recess 4 circular arc when the magnetictransfer carrier 2 is rotated.

[0128] The magnetic transfer carrier 2 is placed on the rotary stage 103and held there by a static chuck. At that time, the air cylinder 112 ispositioned at the upper side in the direction of the arrow mark DD shownin FIG. 14 and the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and the cleaning tool 108are spaced apart from each other. The cleaning tool 108 is disposed atthe position indicated by the arrow mark FF in FIG. 15.

[0129] The cleaning tool 108 is pivoted in the clockwise direction asviewed from above by the pivoting motion motor 111 to be moved to theposition indicated by the arrow mark EE of FIG. 15, that is to as far asa position of the center of the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0130] The magnetic transfer carrier 2 is rotated in the direction of anarrow mark AA by the rotary stage 103 at a rotation number of one rpm,while the cleaning tool 108 is rotated in the direction of an arrow markBB by the rotation motor 109 at a rotation speed of 450 rpm. In thisstate, a cleaning liquid is jetted from the jet port 114.

[0131] The cleaning tool 108 is moved to the lower head of the arrowmark DD by the air cylinder 112. Along with the movement, the cleaningtool 108 moves close to the magnetic transfer carrier 2 while rotatingand ceases its vertical movement at a position where the cleaning tool108 is pressed down into the magnetic transfer carrier 2 at 0.2 mm indepth. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15, a recess and protrusionprofile of the recesses 4 have no chance to be put into direct contactwith the cleaning tool 108 since a radius of 10 mm of the cleaning tool108 is set smaller than a radius of the central region where no part ofthe recesses 4 exists.

[0132] The cleaning tool 108 is moved in the direction of an arrow markCC by the pivoting motion motor 111. At this time, a moving speed of therotation motor 11 is set at a value sufficiently larger than a rotationspeed of 1 rpm of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 such that the cleaningtool 108 moves substantially along each recess 4.

[0133]FIG. 16 is a graph showing a cycle of movement of the cleaningtool 108 in this case. In FIG. 16, the ordinate is assigned to aposition of the air cylinder 112, while the abscissa is used forplotting an elapsed time. When the air cylinder 112 is positioned at theupper side, there is shown a state where the cleaning tool 108 and themagnetic transfer carrier 2 is spaced apart away from each other, whilewhen the air cylinder 112 is positioned at the lower side, there isshown a state where the cleaning tool 108 and the magnetic transfercarrier 2 are in contact with each other.

[0134] At an elapsed time of 0 sec in FIG. 16, the graph shows a statewhere the air cylinder 112 is at the upper side and the cleaning tool108 is disposed at the position indicated by the arrow mark FF in FIG.15. At an elapsed time of 1 sec, the graph shows a state the aircylinder 112 is at the upper side and the cleaning tool 108 moves to aposition indicated by the arrow mark EE in FIG. 15. At an additionalelapsed time of 0.5 sec, the air cylinder 112 moves the lower side tocome into contact with the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0135] Thereafter, the cleaning tool 108 moves from the positionindicated by the arrow mark EE to the position indicated by the arrowmark FF in FIG. 15 while keeping the position of the air cylinder 112 atthe lower side thereof. That is, the cleaning tool 108 slides on thesurface of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 toward the outer peripherythereof from the inner periphery thereof.

[0136] At this time, since a radius of 10 mm of the cleaning tool 108 isset smaller than the central region where no part of the recesses 4 isformed, the cleaning tool 108 can be caused to be slid toward the outerperiphery from the inner periphery with certainty especially in thesection where radial shapes of the recesses 4 are formed.

[0137] The position indicated by the arrow mark FF is selected at aposition where the cleaning tool 108 is spaced apart away from the outerperiphery edge of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 such that the cleaningtool 108 and the magnetic transfer carrier 2 do not come into contactwith each other. Thereby, foreign matter does not remain at the outerperiphery edge of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and can be removedwith certainty.

[0138] At an additional elapsed time of 0.5 sec, the cleaning tool 108moves again to a position when the air cylinder 112 moves to the upperside thereof. Thereafter, a cleaning operation as described above isrepeated to thereby remove foreign matter.

[0139] In this embodiment, a movement cycle of the cleaning tool 108 isset to 3 sec. In addition, a total cleaning time is set to be 5 min.Therefore, repetition of the movement of the rotary brush amounts to 100cycles in total.

[0140] Since a rotation speed of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 is setto 1 rpm, and a radius thereof is set to 50 mm, the outer periphery edgeof the magnetic transfer carrier 2 moves across a distance π×2×50mm×({fraction (1/60)})×3 sec=15.6 mm while the cleaning tool 108operates in one cycle.

[0141] Since a radius of the cleaning tool 108 is 10 mm, the outerperiphery edge of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 is cleaned across alength of 10 mm×2=20 mm in one cycle of the cleaning tool 108.Therefore, since cleaning is performed in a region equal to or longerthan 15.6 mm across which the magnetic transfer carrier 2 moves, all ofthe surface of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 is certainly put intocontact with the cleaning tool 108 while the magnetic transfer carrier 2rotates one time.

[0142] That is, if a radius of the cleaning tool is r (mm), a slidingrepetition cycle in a case where the cleaning tool slides under controlof the sliding section is t (s), a radius of the magnetic transfer 2having the shape of almost a circle is R (mm) and a rotation speed ofthe magnetic transfer carrier 2 is x (rps) by definition, the relationof the following expression is preferably established:

πt×R<rΛ  (1)

[0143] Since a moving speed of the cleaning tool 108 is sufficientlyfaster compared with a rotation speed of the magnetic transfer carrier2, the cleaning tool 108 can be certainly slid toward the outerperiphery of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 from the inner peripherythereof almost along the radial shape of the recesses 4 on the magnetictransfer carrier 2.

[0144] Foreign matter attached in the recesses 4 can be certainly sentout to the outer periphery side by providing a construction in which therecesses 4 are formed in a radial shape extending toward the outerperiphery of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 from the inner peripherythereof on the surface thereof with the outer periphery edge in an openstate outside thereof, and the cleaning tool 108 can slide along theradial shape of the recesses 4 on the magnetic transfer carrier 2 towardthe outer periphery thereof from the inner periphery thereof. That is,foreign matter attached in the recesses 4 is separated from the magnetictransfer carrier 2 by the contact with the magnetic transfer carrier 2of the cleaning tool 108 and the rotation movement of the cleaning tool108 itself and sent out to the outer side of the magnetic transfercarrier 2 through the recesses 4 formed in the radial shape.

[0145] Since the position indicated by the arrow mark FF of the cleaningtool 108 where the cleaning tool 108 is spaced apart away from themagnetic transfer carrier 2 is set to a position where the cleaning tool108 is in no contact with the magnetic transfer carrier 2, that is aposition where perfectly no contact portion exists between the cleaningtool 108 and the magnetic transfer carrier 2, foreign matter attached tothe surface of the magnetic transfer carrier 2 can be certainly sent tooutside of the magnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0146] At this time, as shown in this embodiment, a width of a recess 4is preferably increased toward the outer periphery. This is because,with such a shape, foreign matter is easy to be sent out to the outsidein company with sliding of the cleaning tool 108 toward the peripheryfrom the inner periphery.

[0147] In addition, as shown in this embodiment, a press-down quantityof the cleaning tool 108 is preferably set to a value 10 times depth ofa recess 4 or more. This is because if the press-down quantity isexcessively small, an effect of removing foreign matter at the peripheryedge of each of the recesses 4 is lost.

[0148] For example, observation with a microscope was performed in orderto confirm a relationship between a press-down quantity of the cleaningtool 108 and the presence/absence of foreign matter in the recesses 4after cleaning the magnetic transfer carrier 2 by adjusting themicrometer 113. As a result, it was confirmed that with a press-downquantity of 0.05 mm or more in a case of a depth of a recess 4 was 5 μm,foreign matter in the recesses 4 was certainly removed.

[0149] As described above, it has been made clear through theexperiments that foreign matter in the recesses 4 is certainly removedby setting a press-down quantity of the cleaning tool 108 to a value 10times or more a depth of a recess 4.

[0150] Then, description will be given of a magnetic record reproducingapparatus with reference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a view of a hard diskapparatus in a case where the magnetic disk 1 after magnetic transfer isperformed using the magnetic transfer carrier 2 having been cleaned isinstalled in the hard disk apparatus.

[0151] In FIG. 17, a reference numeral 1 indicates a magnetic disk aftermagnetic transfer. Recording is performed onto the magnetic disk 1 bymagnetically transferring information in the signal region 2 a on themagnetic transfer carrier 2.

[0152] While a magnetic head 61 is scanned over the magnetic disk 1, themagnetic head 61 mounted on a head suspension 62 moves along a circulararc with a rotation axis 63 of a head actuator as the center thereof,which movement coincides with a circular arc of the signal region 2 a.The magnetic disk 1 rotates at a rotation speed of 5400 rpm in thecounterclockwise direction as viewed from above by a spindle motor (notshown) and the magnetic head 61 is pivotable by a voice coil motor 64 ina floating state 20 nm above the magnetic disk 1.

[0153] In the hard disk apparatus mounted with the magnetic disk 1 aftermagnetic transfer, record reproduction was performed with the magnetichead 1 to test a data error percentage. As a result of the test, it wasfound that a magnetic disk after magnetic transfer was performed using amagnetic transfer carrier cleaned by the method shown in this embodimenthad almost the same data error percentage as a magnetic disk on whichmagnetic transfer was not performed. Therefore, it is thought thatcleaning was realized by which no foreign matter remained on the surfaceof the magnetic transfer carrier 2 and no foreign matter remained in therecesses 4 either.

[0154] According to this embodiment, as described above, a surface of amagnetic transfer carrier and recesses thereon can be cleaned by asimple method with certainty. Therefore, a high reliability magneticrecord reproducing apparatus can be realized.

[0155] Note that while as a liquid for cleaning, pure water is used, nospecific limitation is imposed to this, but other liquid such as IPA(isopropyl alcohol), for example, can be used with an equivalent effect.

[0156] Industrial Applicability

[0157] According to the present invention, application can be made to acleaning method for a magnetic transfer carrier for use in magnetictransfer to a magnetic record medium used in a hard disk apparatus and afloppy disk apparatus.

1. A cleaning method comprising: a first step of placing a dummy carrierhaving at least one recess thereon, said recess opening toward an outerperiphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof on a rotary stage usedfor placing a magnetic transfer carrier thereon, said magnetic transfercarrier having plural radial recesses thereon each opening toward anouter periphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof; and a secondstep of sliding a cleaning tool for cleaning said magnetic transfercarrier on said dummy carrier toward said outer periphery thereof fromsaid inner periphery thereof while rotating said dummy carrier with saidrotary stage in rotation.
 2. The cleaning method according to claim 1,wherein in said second step, said cleaning tool is slid on said dummycarrier toward the outer periphery thereof from the inner peripherythereof while rotating in substantially the same direction as incleaning of said magnetic transfer carrier.
 3. The cleaning methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said dummy carrier has plural radialrecesses thereon each with substantially the same shape as that of eachof said plural radial recesses on said magnetic transfer carrier.
 4. Thecleaning method according to claim 1, wherein in said second step, acontact press force of said cleaning tool to said dummy carrier whensaid cleaning tool is slid on said dummy carrier in cleaning issubstantially the same as a contact press force of said cleaning tool tosaid magnetic transfer carrier when said cleaning tool is relativelyslid on said magnetic transfer carrier in cleaning.
 5. The cleaningmethod according to claim 1, wherein in said second step, a relativespeed of said cleaning tool to said dummy carrier when said cleaningtool is slid on said dummy carrier in cleaning is substantially the sameas a relative speed of said cleaning tool to said magnetic transfercarrier when said cleaning tool is relatively slid on said magnetictransfer carrier in cleaning.
 6. The cleaning method according to claim1, wherein in said cleaning, said cleaning tool is relatively moved asfar as outside of said outer periphery edge of said dummy carrier. 7.The cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein said cleaning tool isa rotary brush made of polyurethane.
 8. A cleaning method comprising: afirst step of sliding a cleaning tool relatively on a dummy carrierthereon having at least one recess opening toward an outer peripherythereof from an inner periphery thereof to clean said cleaning tool; anda second step of, after said first step, sliding said cleaning toolrelatively on a magnetic transfer carrier having plural recesses thereoneach opening toward an outer periphery thereof from an inner peripherythereof in a state where said magnetic transfer carrier is held, toclean said magnetic transfer carrier.
 9. The cleaning method accordingto claim 8, wherein a shape of said recess of said dummy carrier and ashape of said recess of said magnetic transfer carrier are substantiallythe same as each other.
 10. The cleaning method according to claim 8,wherein a contact press force of said cleaning tool to said dummycarrier when said cleaning tool is slid on said dummy carrier incleaning is substantially the same as a contact press force of saidcleaning tool to said magnetic transfer carrier when said cleaning toolis relatively slid on said magnetic transfer carrier in cleaning. 11.The cleaning method according to claim 8, wherein a relative speed ofsaid cleaning tool to said dummy carrier when said cleaning tool is slidon said dummy carrier in cleaning is substantially the same as arelative speed of said cleaning tool to said magnetic transfer carrierwhen said cleaning tool is relatively slid on said magnetic transfercarrier in cleaning.
 12. The cleaning method according to claim 8,wherein in said first step, a cleaning liquid is jetted in a directionof said cleaning tool.
 13. The cleaning method according to claim 12,wherein foreign matter in said cleaning liquid is measured, andaccording to a result of said measurement, cleaning with said cleaningtool is performed.
 14. The cleaning method according to claim 8, whereinsaid cleaning tool is relatively moved as far as outside of said outerperiphery edge of said dummy carrier.
 15. The cleaning method accordingto claim 8, wherein said cleaning tool is relatively moved as far asoutside of said outer periphery edge of said magnetic transfer carrier.16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. (canceled)
 19. A cleaning apparatuscomprising: a holding section capable of holding a first carrier to becleaned in the shape of a disk and a second carrier used as a dummy inthe shape of a disk; a cleaning tool disposed facing each of said bothcarriers held by said holding section; and a sliding section slidingsaid cleaning tool relatively on each of said both carriers in cleaning,and being operable according to a procedure including: a step of slidingsaid cleaning tool with said sliding section on said second carrierrelatively thereto in a state where said second carrier is held by saidholding section to clean said cleaning tool; and a step of sliding saidcleaning tool cleaned in said previous step on said first carrierrelatively thereto in a state where said first carrier is held by saidholding section to clean said first carrier.
 20. The cleaning apparatusaccording to claim 19, wherein in cleaning, said cleaning tool isrelatively moved as far as outside of said outer periphery edge of saidsecond carrier.
 21. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 19,wherein in cleaning, said cleaning tool is relatively moved as far asoutside of said outer periphery edge of said first carrier.
 22. Thecleaning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a carrier is used, assaid first carrier, on which an information signal is recorded, andwhich is used in magnetic transfer of said information signal onto amagnetic record medium in contact therewith, and having a recess forclose contact between said first carrier and said second carrier inmagnetic transfer, on a magnetic transfer surface of said carrier facingsaid magnetic record medium, in which said recess has a shape to opentoward an outer periphery of said carrier from an inner peripherythereof and in addition, serves as a recess for cleaning, and a carrieris used, as said second carrier, on which a recess with almost the sameshape as that of said recess on said first carrier, on at least onecarrier surface thereof.
 23. A dummy carrier, in correspondence to amagnetic transfer carrier used for magnetic transfer of an informationsignal with plural radial recesses thereon each opening toward an outerperiphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof on a magnetic transfersurface thereof; having a radial recess extending toward an outerperiphery thereof from an inner periphery thereof on at least onesurface thereof, a shape of which recess is the same or substantiallythe same as that of each of said plural radial recesses on said magnetictransfer surface, and being used for cleaning of a cleaning toolcleaning said magnetic transfer carrier.
 24. A cleaning apparatus for amagnetic transfer carrier having a magnetic film corresponding to aninformation signal formed on a surface on a substrate, comprising: aholding section holding said magnetic transfer carrier having a recessof a radial shape thereon extending toward an outer periphery thereoffrom an inner periphery thereof with an edge at said outer peripheryopening to outside thereof; a cleaning tool disposed facing a surface ofsaid magnetic transfer carrier on which said magnetic film is formed;and a sliding section sliding said cleaning tool on said magnetictransfer carrier relatively thereto, wherein in cleaning, said slidingsection presses said cleaning tool to said magnetic transfer carrier ata prescribed quantity of press-down and keeping this state, slides saidcleaning tool toward said outer periphery from said inner periphery ofsaid magnetic transfer carrier in conformity to said radial shape ofsaid recess.
 25. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 24, whereinon a surface of said magnetic transfer carrier, an area of a centralportion having no part of said recess is larger than an area in whichsaid cleaning tool is in contact with said magnetic transfer carrier.26. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said cleaningtool is a rotary brush rotating about a line, as an axis, in a directionin substantially parallel to a line normal to said magnetic transfercarrier.
 27. The cleaning apparatus according to claim 24, wherein if aradius of said rotary brush is r (mm), a cycle of sliding repetition insliding of said rotary brush driven by said sliding section is t(s), aradius of said magnetic transfer carrier of a substantially circularshape is R (mm), and a rotation speed of said magnetic transfer carrierwhen being rotated by said holding section is x (rps) by definition, arelation of πt×R<r is established.
 28. The cleaning apparatus accordingto claim 24, wherein if a depth of said recess on said magnetic transfercarrier is M (mm) and, a press-down quantity of said rotary brush intosaid magnetic transfer carrier in cleaning is N (mm) by definition, arelation of N/M>10 is established.
 29. The cleaning apparatus accordingto claim 24, wherein said recess is enlarged in width toward the outerperiphery from the inner periphery.
 30. The cleaning apparatus accordingto claim 24, wherein said cleaning tool is slid to as far as outside ofan outer periphery edge of a magnetic film on said surface of saidmagnetic transfer carrier on which said magnetic film is formed.
 31. Thecleaning apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said recess is of theshape of a substantially circular arc, said cleaning tool is pivotedaround a prescribed position as a center, and a curvature radius of saidcircular arc and a radius of said pivoting motion of said rotary brushare substantially in coincidence with each other.
 32. A cleaning methodfor a magnetic transfer carrier having a magnetic film corresponding toan information signal formed on a surface of a substrate comprising thesteps of: holding said magnetic transfer carrier having a recess of aradial shape thereon extending toward an outer periphery thereof from aninner periphery thereof with an edge at said outer periphery opening tooutside thereof; and sliding a cleaning tool disposed facing a surfaceof said magnetic transfer carrier on which a magnetic film is formed,relatively thereto, wherein in cleaning, said sliding section pressessaid cleaning tool to said magnetic transfer carrier at a prescribedquantity of press-down and keeping this state, slides said cleaning tooltoward the outer periphery from the inner periphery in conformity tosaid radial shape of said recess.